Nothing beats the taste of a delicious mouth-watering burger. There are tons of great burgers out there, but have you ever wondered where the home of the best burger is? The Iowa Beef Industry Council and New York Beef Council are sending forth their state’s best burger to answer that exact question.

This is the second year of this intense bragging rights competition and as of right now, Iowa is home to the best burger, for they were the 2021 winner. Will Iowa be able to keep its title? Will New York seek revenge? Time will tell. Starting June 6, consumers will have the chance to cast their vote for either The Flying Elbow in Iowa or Ale n’ Angus Pub in New York.

The 2022 Iowa’s best burger was awarded, in early May, to The Flying Elbow in Marshalltown for their “Tombstone” smashburger. The burger itself features a blend of chuck, brisket and short rib, which is fresh, never frozen, and sourced from Midwest cattle. It also contains Wagyu beef, raised by a Marshalltown producer. The winning Tombstone burger toppings consist of Manchego cheese, guacamole, bacon, sour cream, shredded lettuce, tomato, and death valley hot sauce on the side. It, however, can be dressed in multiple different ways. Making this combination unlike any other.

Iowa’s selection process begins with the public voting for its favorite burger place. From this, Iowa gathers the “Top 10” burger joints and sends anonymous judges to each restaurant to score each burger. They then proceed to pick the best burger based on taste, doneness and presentation.

The title of the 2022 New York’s best burger was awarded to Ale ‘n’ Angus Pub in Syracuse in early May. This burger brings a lot to the table which explains why it was also able to bring home the title of New York’s best burger. This “Holy Smokers Burger” is made up of an 8oz Certified Angus Beef patty topped with smoked beef brisket, pepper jack cheese, house-made seasoned onion straws, and house-made brown sugar BBQ sauce, all on a delicious Pretzel Bun.

Just like Iowa, New York’s selection process begins as a public vote. It then gets narrowed down to the final four and a cook-off with a team of judges takes place to select the overall best burger.

The best burger contest in each state is extremely beneficial. It not only gets consumers excited to eat beef but also teaches them about beef production. To assist in the effort of spreading the word about beef, Iowa’s Best Burger Contest is sponsored by IBIC through the Iowa State Beef Checkoff and the Iowa Cattlemen’s. The Best New York Burger Contest is made possible with funding from IBIC.

New Yorkers and Iowans are dying to know which is home to the ultimate Best Burger. Is the home of the best burger in the big city or is it in the heart of the Midwest? Your vote can help decide. Be sure to cast your vote for the ultimate best burger starting June 6 using the online nomination form. It won’t be open for long though. The nominations period will close at 11:59 p.m. on June 13, so don’t forget to vote.